Report: Childhood obesity still high in Arkansas LITTLE ROCK (AP) — While Arkansas children are more likely to receive immunizations and dental care than they were seven years ago, a report released Thursday highlighted the need for them to receive better access to medical care, nutritious meals and health education. The report shows Arkansas still has progress to make in reducing childhood obesity rates, residents' food insecurity, teenage birth rates and motor vehicle fatalities. Arkansas ...

Former state trooper pleads guilty to felony ASH FLAT (AP) — A former Arkansas State Police trooper has pleaded guilty to a felony breaking or entering charge. Seth Higginbottom, 38, of Cave City was sentenced to 24 months of supervised probation after entering the plea Wednesday in Sharp County Circuit Court. An affidavit filed in the case says Higginbottom admitted taking prescription medication from a drug take-back box at the Sharp County Sheriff's Office on Feb. 6 to replace drug ev...

Man dies in fall from roof of industrial building LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A Cabot man is dead after falling from the roof of an industrial building in Little Rock. Police identified the victim as James Taylor, 51, who died Wednesday morning from a fall at a location on West 65th Street. Taylor and a co-worker, James Strader, were using a tape measure to determine the size of the roof of the large, metal building. Strader told officers that he turned around and suddenly no longer saw Taylor. ...

Report due on Arkansas children's health LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A report compiled from several organizations on the health of Arkansas children is due to be released Thursday in Little Rock. The report, titled "Natural Wonders: The State of Children's Health in Arkansas" will chart how the state has done since an update in 2011, and outline which areas still need attention. The 2011 update noted a decline in the number of women receiving prenatal care, but also a decline in the rate of b...

Federal jury convicts former Arkansas treasurer LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A jury convicted former Arkansas Treasurer Martha Shoffner of federal bribery and extortion charges Tuesday, saying her acceptance of $36,000 from a bond trader who did business with the state was a felony rather than just a lapse in ethical judgment. Shoffner wept quietly at the defense table before the jurors, who deliberated for about three hours, returned to the courtroom. But the former Democratic official regained her ...

Arkansas lawmakers approve $5B budget measure LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas lawmakers approved a $5 billion budget on Tuesday that boosts funding for public schools and prisons as the Legislature neared the end of a session that's been dominated by debate about the state's compromise Medicaid expansion. The House and Senate passed identical versions of the budget legislation, formally known as the proposed Revenue Stabilization Act. Both chambers are expected to give final approval to the b...

Arkansas lands $165 million poultry operation LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Poultry supplier Peco Foods announced plans Monday for a new plant, hatchery and feed mill in northeast Arkansas, a $165 million operation expected to create 1,000 jobs in two rural counties. Groundbreaking for the feed mill site in Corning is set for next month, while initial work on the hatchery and processing plant site near Pocahontas is set for July. Mark Hickman, chief executive of Peco Foods Inc., said the company hop...

Woman dead, son in custody in Springdale shooting SPRINGDALE (AP) — Police in Springdale say a woman is dead and her son was taken into custody in a shooting at a home in the northwest Arkansas city. Lt. Derek Hudson told reporters that officers investigating reports of a man threatening to kill himself about midnight Friday first found 36-year-old Scott Rocha inside the home, then later discovered the body of 65-year-old Frances Rocha who was dead from a gunshot wound. Scott Rocha says the s...

Body found in river identified as Texas woman FOUKE (AP) — Authorities have identified a body found in the Sulphur River in southwestern Arkansas as that of a Texas woman who was last seen in December. The Texarkana Gazette reported the state Medical Examiner's Office in Little Rock used dental records to identify the body as that of Elizabeth Ramsey of Texarkana, Texas. Ramsey was last seen Dec. 17 at her home. Her vehicle was found days later at the Wright Patman Lake spillway, which fe...

Judge orders sale of convicted evangelist's church TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) — A federal judge has again ordered the sale of convicted evangelist Tony Alamo's church and gym in Fort Smith in order to partially satisfy a $30 million civil judgment owed by Alamo. The order by U.S. Magistrate Barry Bryant rejects five liens filed in December against the church by Alamo followers, The Texarkana Gazette reported Saturday. Bryant's order, signed Thursday, ruled the liens invalid, noting that none had enf...

Broker says treasurer took $6K at Arkansas Capitol LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A bond broker who managed a large share of Arkansas' investments said in federal court Friday he felt sorry for the former state treasurer when she was going through a rough patch and gave her money to help her with her troubles. Martha Shoffner, 69, is named in 14 counts alleging bribery and extortion. Prosecutors allege she directed a significant amount of the state's business to broker Steele Stephens in return for $36,00...

Arkansas lawmakers advance $5B budget bill LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas' public schools would receive the largest funding increase and the state's reserve fund would get $19 million under a $5 billion budget plan that lawmakers advanced Friday. The Joint Budget Committee endorsed the state's budget bill, formally known as the proposed Revenue Stabilization Act, as they neared the end of this year's legislative session. The House and Senate are expected to vote on identical versions of t...

Arkansas fires women's coach Tom Collen FAYETTEVILLE (AP) — Arkansas fired women's basketball coach Tom Collen on Friday, bringing a close to a disappointing stretch for the program. The Razorbacks (19-11) lost in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament to Mississippi on Wednesday, the eighth time in nine seasons they've failed to advance past the opening game. Collen was 132-90 in seven seasons at Arkansas after being hired away from Louisville. However, the schoo...

Arkansas lawmakers whittle down surplus requests LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas lawmakers advanced a plan Thursday to tap nearly $22 million from the surplus to pay for the prison system, school broadband and other one-time needs as they got their first look at legislation detailing the state's $5 billion budget. Legislation endorsed by the Joint Budget Committee whittled down the list of more than $92 million in projects that Gov. Mike Beebe and lawmakers had wanted to fund using the state's p...

Lawmakers get first look at budget bill LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Legislation outlining Arkansas' $5 billion budget for the coming year calls for boosts in funding for the state's public schools and prisons. Legislative leaders on Thursday night released the state's budget bill, formally known as the Revenue Stabilization Act, as they move closer toward wrapping up this year's session. The bill is scheduled to go before the Joint Budget Committee on Friday, with House and Senate votes expe...

Witnesses portray Shoffner as cranky, demanding LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Federal prosecutors drew testimony Thursday from current and former Arkansas treasurer's office employees about how the state missed profit opportunities by selling bonds early and angry outbursts by former Treasurer Martha Shoffner, who is accused of illegally accepting $36,000 from a bond dealer. The government also worked to block part of Shoffner's lawyer's trial strategy. In opening statements, attorney Chuck Banks told...

Arkansas judge's online comments investigated LITTLE ROCK (AP) — An Arkansas judge has admitted that he posted a series of anonymous online comments that critics say are racist, sexist and otherwise inappropriate, including one in which he revealed alleged details of confidential proceedings involving actress Charlize Theron's adoption of her son. Circuit Judge Mike Maggio acknowledged Wednesday that he posted the comments on a Louisiana State University fan message board, Tiger Droppings...

Hearing set on Arkansas response to winter storm LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas legislators are set to discuss highway officials' response to a winter storm that left drivers stranded on icy Arkansas interstates earlier this week. Sen. Bill Sample, chairman of the Senate's Transportation Committee, says the joint meetings are set for Tuesday and Wednesday. Two senators requested that the transportation committees meet after motorists were stranded overnight for hours on Interstates 55 and 40 in...

Little Rock officer on leave during investigation LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A Little Rock police officer is on administrative leave while the department investigates the officer's shooting of a man who allegedly pointed a loaded handgun at police early Wednesday. Police say officers tracked a suspect after he allegedly robbed a convenience store and fled into the woods with beer and cash. Police say the officers located the suspect and tried to get him to drop his handgun. Police say said the man re...

Near record number of deer taken in Arkansas LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission reports a near record number of deer were taken during the 2013-14 deer hunting season. The commission says hunters checked 213,199 deer during the season, fewer than 300 short of the record of 213,487 deer harvested last year. The commission also says that for the first time ever more does than bucks were taken. The commission reports 107,247 does to 105,952 bucks harvested The buck tot...